Community given chance to visit an award winning family farm

Media release

20 April 2016

Community given chance to visit an award winning family farm

Members of the public are being offered the opportunity to visit an award winning farm at a field day near Motunau on Thursday, 4 May.

The Douglas-Clifford family were presented with the Ballance Farm Environment Supreme Regional Award for their sheep, beef and deer operation at an awards evening held earlier this month.

They also won the region’s Hill Laboratories Harvest Award, Massey University Innovation Award and the Farm Stewardship Award in partnership with QEII National Trust and New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

The 2950ha Stonyhurst farm carries 70 per cent sheep, 25 per cent cattle and five per cent deer.

Sandra Taylor, the Judging Coordinator for the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards, said the field day is a rare opportunity for people to see how an award winning farm operates.

“We are delighted to be able to provide members of the public with a chance to see why the Douglas-Clifford family won this prestigious award.

“The Ballance Farm Environment Awards recognise and celebrate that best practice on-farm management is both good for business, and good for the environment.

“We are sure plenty of people will be keen to see such a diverse farming business and how sustainable and profitable farming practices have been implemented,” she said.

At the Field Day industry experts will also speak on a variety of topics including farm technology, Biodiversity, stock production and dryland forages.

The award judges described Stonyhurst as an aesthetically stunning and commercially successful farm where management decisions focused on sustainability.

The judges wrote: “Overlooking the Pacific, the farm features stands of native bush which are protected and valued. Ongoing planting and protection programmes ensure the farm will continue to improve for future generations.”

They also noted the family uses technology to drive productivity and streamline management decisions which are aimed at protecting natural resources such as soil for future generations

For information on the BFEA regional winners see: http://www.nzfeatrust.org.nz/vdb/document/164

Farm quick facts

Type: Sheep, beef, deer
Total area: 2950ha
Stock units: 22,000
Rainfall: 950mm
Elevation: 0-330 MASL

Field Day information

Date: Thursday, 4 May, 11am (rain or shine)
Venue: 1080 Stonyhurst Road, RD 1, Motunau, Greta Valley 7387

Catering: BYO packed lunch, BBQ and refreshments will be provided from 4:00pm

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